Slide switch



Oct 29, 1957 c. A. AQUILLON 2,811,593

SLIDE SWITCH Filed May 9, 1955 United States Patent SLIDE SWITCH Charles A. Aquillon, West Newton, Mass., assignor to Ark-Les Switch Corporation, Watertown, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 9, 1955, Serial No. 506,695

10 Claims. (Cl. 200-) This invention relates to slide switches of the type having a plurality of contacts operated in sequence by a sliding element and is especially adapted for use in switches for carrying heavy currents.

Heretofore, the use of slide switches has created a problem in applications wherein heavy currents, say currents greater than amperes had to be carried by the switch contacts. This was became the straight line movement of the sliding element permitted extremely rapid operation of the switch, so rapid that the arcs created by the successive closing and opening of a plurality of switch contacts were not extinguished rapidly enough to prevent current flow simultaneously at a plurality of contacts. The resulting current flow through the switch of many times the normal current flow through a single set of contacts was commonly sufficient to destroy the switch. Acocrdingly, other types of switches which could not be operated so rapidly, such as push button switches, were commonly used in heavy current carrying applications, for example, kitchen ranges and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel multiple contact slide switch not subject to the above mentioned difliculty, simple in construction and safe and reliable in operation, means being provided therein for disconnecting or opening all of its contacts during switching movement to prevent creation of a plurality of current carrying arcs.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel switch having a sliding cam element for successively depressing a plurality of pins which in turn operate the switch contacts in a predetermined sequence.

It is a feature of the invention that means are provided for positioning the sliding element in one of the several switching positions, so that it cannot remain in a position therebetween.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, together with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, partially broken away, of the slide switch of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view, partially broken away, of the switch of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional side view, partly broken away, of the switch of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional end view, somewhat enlarged and simplified, of the switch of Figs. 1 through 3, showing the disconnecting means in inoperative position;

Fig. 5 is a sectional end view, somewhat enlarged and simplified, of the switch of Figs. 1 through 3, showing the disconnecting means in operative position;

Fig. 6 is a sectional side view, somewhat enlarged and simplified, of the switch of Figs. 1 through 3, showing a portion of the disconnecting means;

Fig. 7 is an isometric view of one of the elements of the switch of Figs. 1 through 6; and

Fig. 8 is an isometric view of another of the elements of the switch of Figs. 1 through 6.

As shown in the drawings, the slide switch of this invention has a base 12 of plastic or other insulating material. The forms a support for the various elements of the switch and is closed by a cover 14 attached to the base by means of suitable machine screws 16. A plurality of cooperating contact elements are mounted on the bottom of the base 12, such elements including stationary contacts 20 mounted on said base along one side thereof, and movable contacts 22 positioned beneath said stationary contacts for movement toward and away therefrom by means of leaf springs 24 mounted on the opposite side of the base from the stationary contacts 20. The springs 24 support the movable contacts 22 normally closed with the stationary contacts as hereinafter more fully explained. The stationary contacts 20 are provided with terminals 26 which extend through the bottom of base 12 and are exposed for connection to exterior circuits. Similar terminals 28 are provided for movable contacts 22 at the fixed ends of springs 24.

A plurality of slides 30, herein shown as six in number are mounted in base 12 by means of a guide member 32 of inverted U shape for longitudinal sliding movement to operate the contacts. More specifically, the guide member 32 is positioned in said base by recesses in the end walls thereof and supports the slides 30 between its vertical side walls in side by side relationship. The slides themselves on their bottom edges have a plurality of spaced projections 34 acting as cam surfaces for actuating, in certain longitudinal positions of the slides, certain of the contacts 22 by pressing downwardly one or more of the springs 24 to open the contacts 20, 22. The slides also have in their upper edge surfaces a plurality of apertures having slanted actuating surfaces 36, and pins 40, herein shown as six in number to provide six switching positions, are arranged to contact said surfaces to move said slides longitudinally of the switch structure to one of said switching positions. The pins 40 are guided for vertical movement by slots 42 in guide member 32 on each side thereof, said pins projecting through the apertures of the slides 30 and the slots 42 in the guide members.

A sliding member 44 is mounted on guide member 32 for sliding movement longitudinally of the switch, said member having generally V shaped working cam surfaces 46 extending downwardly adjacent the sides of guide member 32 for successively engaging the projecting ends of pins 40 to depress the pins as cam followers against slide actuating surfaces 36 to move slides 30 to preselected longitudinal switching positions. The slide apertures with their actuating surfaces 36 are so arranged that but a single pin 40 may remain depressed in any given switching position, so that the movement of cam member 44 to depress a pin will result in the movement of the slide actuating surfaces 36 to raise the previously depressed pin. Thus, the slides may be readily arranged so that the depression of a pin will correspond to a predetermined switching position, and movement of sliding member 44 to successively depress the pins 40 will result in a predetermined switching sequence of the contacts.

With the slide switch structure as above described carrying heavy currents, the sliding member 44 may be moved so rapidly from one end of its travel to the other that a number of arcs created by the rapid sequential closing and opening of the contacts can exist simultaneously. This, as pointed out above, may result in a total current heavy enough to destroy the switch.

Accordingly, disconnecting means are provided for opening all of the contacts during switching movement of the sliding member 44 so that arcs will not be sequentially created as the member is moved through a plurality of switching positions. Such disconnecting means includes a disconnecting member 50 pivotally mounted on the side of cover 14 by suitable arms 50a extending through slots 50b in the cover which are therein opposite stationary contacts 20. The member 50 has a plurality of downwardly extending arms 52 adapted for vertical movement into and out of contact with springs 24 and arranged when depressed to press springs 24 downwardly to open the contacts 20, 22. The arms 52 are normally retained in upward inoperative position out of contact with springs 24 by coil springs 54 extending generally vertically between the free end of disconnecting member 50 and cover 14.

For moving arms 52 downwardly to open the contacts during switching movement of sliding cam member 44, camming means are provided. Such means in general includes as its elements a tilting cam element 56, a carrier 58 for said element mounted on and movable with sliding member 44, and a cam surface on disconnecting member 50 comprising a plurality of slots 60, herein shown as six, each corresponding to a longitudinal switching position. As best shown in Figs. 4 through 8, the cam element carrier 58 (Fig. 7) has a rectangular recess 62 in one side thereof with a side wall having a notch 64 therein. The tilting cam element 56 (Fig. 8) is in the shape of a 45 right triangle with a stub shaft 66 protruding from one side along the long side thereof, and grooves 68 on each of the shorter sides near its right angle corner. Such cam element 56 is normally positioned within recess 62 with its long side on the bottom of said recess (Fig. 1), said long side being of a length to just fit within said recess, and with its stub shaft 66 extending into notch 64. With the cam element carrier 58 in a switching position with cam element 56 interposed between its carrier 58 and the cooperating cam surface of disconnecting member 50, a slot 60 of said disconnecting member is so positioned that the right angled corner of cam element 56 fits within said slot, the. notches 64 being so arranged to permit sufficient upward movement of disconnecting member 50, as urged by its springs 54, so that its arms 52 are out of contact with leaf springs 24.

When the cam element carrier 58 is positioned between switching positions, the cam element 56 will be tilted as shown in Fig. 6. In such position, it depresses disconnecting member 50, its short sides and the cooperating slots 60 being of such length that the amount of depression is sufiicient to open the switch contacts 20, 22. The slots 60 cooperate with the grooves 68 in the cam element 56 to swing said cam element about one of its 45 corners acting against an end of recess 62 until one of its short sides is flat against the surface of disconnecting member 50, the stub shaft 66 and notch 64 aiding in controlling the movement and positioning of the cam element 56. The length of the short sides of said cam element in suflicient to bridge slots 60 so that the contacts 20, 22

will remain depressed throughout continued travel in one direction of the cam element carrier, so that a slight reverse movement, which is supplied by the action of coil springs 54 tending to swing the cam element 56 into its normal position when its right angle corner is positioned within a slot 66, is necessary to raise the disconnecting arms 52 to their inoperative position.

For moving the elements of the slide switch to effect switching and disconnecting movement, as above described, the cam element carrier 58 is provided with an upstanding web 70 extending through a longitudinal opening 72 in cover 14, said web 70 being provided with a suitable finger key 74 so that the switch may be easily and rapidly operated. Any movement of said carrier will also move sliding member 44 since suitable lugs are provided therein for engaging said carrier so that the two elements will move together, although with some slight longitudinal relative movement to permit cam element 56 to tilt automatically by sliding cam element carrier 58 while sliding member 44 remains stationary, so that the relatively high friction between said member 44 and guide member 32 need not be overcome in order to tilt said element 56.

Although the action of the camming elements of the disconnecting means to some degree provides for positioning of the switch elements in a switching position, it is preferred to provide a separate positioning means for positively locating the sliding member 44 in a position corresponding to one of the longitudinal switch controlling positions. Thus, a pair of opposed positioning cam elements having waved cam surfaces with opposed depressions corresponding to switching positions are provided beneath cover 14 slidably mounted in transverse slots on supports 82 in the ends of said cover for movement toward and away from one another. Springs 84 are connected between the ends of said elements 80 to urge said elements together. A cam follower 86 is interposed between the waved surfaces of cam elements 80, said follower being mounted on sliding member 44 to position said member in a predetermined switching position by the action of the spring pressed cam surfaces on said follower.

In operation, with the sliding switch in one switching position and cam element 56 in its normal position with its base flat against the bottom surface of cover 14 and its right angle corner within a slot 60 so that disconnecting member 50 is in its raised, inoperative position, one of the pins 40 will be depressed by the working surfaces 46 of sliding member 44 to actuate slides 30 so that one of the projections 34 depresses a leaf spring 24 to open contacts 20, 22 (Fig.4). When the finger key 74 is operated to move the switch to another switching position, cam element 56 tilts about one of its corners as above described to force disconnecting member 50 downwardly so that its arms 52 press all of the leaf springs 24 downwardly to open contacts 20, 22, so that all of said contacts will remain open during switching movement, independently of the action of slide projections 24. Since the cam element 56 and the cooperating slots 60 are of a size whereby the slots will be bridged by the cam element during travel thereof in one direction, the disconnecting member 50 will maintain all of the contacts 20, 22 in open position during any switching movement, whether between adjacent switching positions or positions at opposite ends of the switch travel. Thus, no matter how rapid the travel of the sliding member 44, a plurality of arcs cannot be created.

When the finger key 74 is released, the action of spring pressed positioning cam elements 80 on follower 86 will move sliding member 44 to a switching position, As soon as it is so located, tilting cam element 56 will return to its normal position as explained above and allowdisconnecting member 50 to be raised by its springs 54 to inoperative position. The contacts 24 .22 will then be controlled by projections 34 on slides 30 to produce a desired switching arrangement of said contacts. Suitable indicia may be provided on cover 14 to indicate the significance of each individual switching position.

Thus it will be seen that the invention provides a novel slide switch particularly useful in applications, such as on kitchen ranges, wherein heavy currents must be carried by the switch contacts. Various modifications within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to those skilled in theswitch art.

I claim:

1. A slideswitch comprising a base, contact means including a plurality of contact switch actuating members supported in said base and means for actuating said members, said means including a plurality of slides disposed in said base, said slides having edges with a plurality of spaced cam surfaces adapted in certain longitudinal positions .of the slides to actuate certain of the members, and said slides having a plurality of apertures with actuating surfaces, a plurality of pins projecting through the apertures in said slides, guide means for said pins, and a sliding cam element for successively engaging said pins so that the associated slides are operated to preselected longitudinal switch controlling positions by said sliding cam element.

2. A slide switch as claimed in claim 1, further including disconnecting means for opening said contact means during travel of said sliding cam element.

3. A slide switch as claimed in claim 1, further including positioning means for locating said sliding cam element in a position corresponding to one of said preselected longitudinal switch controlling positions.

4. A slide switch comprising a base, contact means including a plurality of contact switch actuating members supported in said base, means for successively actuating said members including a sliding element mounted on said base for sliding movement relative to said contact switch ctuating members, and disconnecting means for opening said contact means during travel of said sliding element.

5. A slide switch as claimed in claim 4 wherein said disconnecting means includes a disconnecting member adapted to open said contact means, and camming means for moving said disconnecting member to open said contact means during travel of said sliding element.

6. A slide switch as claimed in claim 5 wherein said camming means includes a tilting cam element movable with said sliding element and a cam surface on said disconnecting member cooperating with said tilting cam element to maintain said disconnecting member in inoperative position when said sliding element is in a position corresponding to a preselected switching position and to tilt said element and move said disconnecting member to open said contact means during travel of said tilting cam element past said disconnecting member cam surface.

7. A slide switch comprising a base, contact means including a plurality of contact switch actuating members supported in said base, and means for successively actuating said members including a sliding element mounted on said base for sliding movement relative to said contact switch actuating members, disconnecting means for opening said contact means during travel of said sliding element, and positioning means for locating said sliding element in a position corresponding to one of a plurality of preselected switching positions.

8. A slide switch as claimed in claim 7 wherein said positioning means includes a pair of cam elements having opposed cam surfaces corresponding to said switching positions, means normally urging said cam surfaces together and cam follower means on said sliding element for positioning said element in one of said preselected switching positions.

9. A slide switch comprising a base, stationary contacts secured to the base, movable contacts positioned beneath said stationary contacts, a plurality of parallel springs mounted on said base and supporting the movable contacts normally in contact with said stationary contacts and for downward movement away from said stationary contacts to open said contacts, a plurality of slides disposed in said base, said slides having bottom edges with a plurality of spaced projections for engaging certain of the springs to effect opening of the respective contacts in certain operating positions of the slides and said slides having a plurality of apertures with actuating surfaces, a plurality of pins projecting through the apertures in said slides, guide means for guiding each of said pins for vertical movement, said pins including a guide member having therein a plurality of vertical slots engaging the projecting ends of said pins, a longitudinally sliding cam element having a downwardly projecting cam surface for successively engaging and depressing said pins as cam followers so that the associated slides are operated to preselected longitudinal switching positions by said sliding cam element, and disconnecting means for pressing downwardly on each of said springs to open said contact means during travel of said sliding cam element, said disconnecting means including a disconnecting member adapted to contact said springs, said member being mounted for vertical movement into and out of contact with said springs, spring means normally retaining said disconnecting member in upward position out of contact with said springs, and camming means for moving said disconnecting member downwardly to open said contacts during travel of said sliding cam element, said camming means including a tilting cam element, a carrier for said element movable with said sliding cam element, and a cam surface on said disconnecting member corresponding to said longitudinal switching positions cooperating with said tilting cam element to maintain said disconnecting member in its upward inoperative position when said sliding cam element is in a position corresponding to one of Said longitudinal switching positions and to tilt said element and move said disconnecting member downwardly to engage said springs and open said contacts during travel of said tilting cam past said disconnecting member cam surface.

10. A slide switch comprising a base, stationary contacts secured to the base, movable contacts positioned beneath said stationary contacts, a plurality of parallel springs mounted on said base and supporting the movable contacts normally in contact with said stationary contacts and for downward movement away from said stationary contacts to open said contacts, a plurality of slides disposed in said base, said slides having bottom edges with a plurality of Spaced projections for engaging certain of the springs to elfect opening of the respective contacts in certain operating positions of the slides and said slides having a plurality of apertures with actuating surfaces, a plurality of pins projecting through the apertures in said slides, guide means for guiding each of said pins for vertical movement, said pins including a guide member having therein a plurality of vertical slots engaging the projecting ends of said pins, a longitudinally sliding cam element having a downwardly projecting cam surface for successively engaging and depressing said pins as cam followers so that the associated slides are operated to preselected longitudinal switching positions by said sliding cam element, disconnecting means for pressing downwardly on each of said springs to open said contact means during travel of said sliding cam element, said disconnecting means including a disconnecting member adapted to contact said springs, said member being mounted for vertical movement into and out of contact with said springs, spring means normally retaining said disconnecting member in upward position out of contact with said springs, and camming means for moving said disconnecting member downwardly to open said contacts during travel of said sliding cam element, said camming means including a tilting cam element, a carrier for said element movable with said sliding cam element, and a cam surface on said disconnecting member corresponding to said longitudinal switching positions cooperating with said tilting cam element to maintain said disconnecting member in its upward inoperative position when said sliding cam element is in a position corresponding to one of said longitudinal switching positions and to tilt said element and move said disconnecting member downwardly to engage said springs and open said contacts during travel of said tilting carn past said disconnecting member cam surface, positioning means for locating said sliding cam element in a position corresponding to one of said preselected longitudinal switching positions, said positioning means including a pair of cam elements having opposed cam surfaces corresponding to said longitudinal switching positions, spring means normally urging said opposed cam surfaces together, and cam follower means on said sliding cam element for positioning said element in one of said preselected longitudinal switching positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,246,628 Wells Nov. 13, 1917 2,431,964 Andrews Dec. 2, 1947 2,635,154 Zuckerman Apr. 14, 1953 2,723,317 Hutt Nov. 8, 1955 

